28-year-old Gabriel Landeskog's contract with Colorado has expired and negotiations for a new one have been sluggish - which caused the Swede, who has been team captain at the club since he was 19, to air his dissatisfaction in the media.

"I have to be honest, I'm a little disappointed that it had to go this far," he told The Athletic.

Seattle may take one player from each club in the expansion draft that takes place on Wednesday, but the clubs have the right to protect a certain number of stars.

Several large stars can be recruited

When the official list of available players was presented on Sunday, it was clear that Landeskog was not protected by his club.

The list of potential star signings also includes Nashville's Matt Duchene, New Jersey's PK Subban and St.

Louis Vladimir Tarasenko.

But the big snack has been that Montreal's goalkeeper Carey Price is exposed.

The hope is that Price's high salary will deter Seattle and that it will thus be possible to keep both the 33-year-old and second goalkeeper Jake Allen, who is protected in the draft.